Phiya Kushi's Blog: Musings on life and macrobiotics

Macrobiotic Counseling: Issues and Concerns

August 19, 2010

Macrobiotic Counseling is a relatively new service that began as very informal private meetings between individuals and George Ohsawa or with Michio Kushi in the 60s and early 70s. It was just a private one on one meeting where individuals asked a variety of questions of their teacher. Questions ranged from health concerns, relationship issues, personal life decisions and so on. These meetings were free with only a suggested donation. Michio used these meetings to develop not only his visual diagnostic skills but also his uncanny intuitive abilities. As stories of remarkable recoveries spread and of his incredible abilities, more and more people sought his advice for health concerns and Michio and macrobiotics soon became known less as a philosophy and way of life and more as a diet therapy for incurable diseases.

Many of Michio’s students wished to learn to do what he did and Michio encouraged this. At this point, people began charging money for it and became dependent upon the income it generated, including Michio. Michio developed formalized procedures and students helped develop materials to supplement and enhance the counseling services. Later, the Kushi Institute was created develop macrobiotic teachers, cooks, shiatsu practitioners and counselors.

As the numbers of macrobiotic counselors grew attempts were made over the years by Michio and the Kushi Instittue to regulate the business and create standard procedures but all of them failed. Also, in the 1980s network multi-level marketing become popular and some counselors began to use macrobiotic counseling services to sell products and develop their network marketing business. Overtime, macrobiotic counseling services have diversified with some remaing true to Michio’s approach while others divurging and intentionally adopting other ways to distance themselves and create their own niche.

Without any oversight, macrobiotic counseling still remains an unregulated business that sometimes resembles the wild west with counselors aggresively competing with each other. The Kushi Institute only offers training but does not regulate counseling even among its own counselors. This allows for its present lead teacher/counselor to work there while admittedly diverging from Michio’s own tried and true proven ways.

With Michio at 84 and no longer offering counseling nor participating in educational activities then whatever hint of regularity in counseling generated by the standard of measure that he provided simply by virtue of his presence and leadership now no longer exists. There is no longer any possibility to regulate macrobiotic counseling through the Kushi Institute. It will have to be done through a third party association or entity that is independent of any individual counselor, if it is to be done at all. The future of the present type of macrobiotic counseling being offered today will depend on it, if it is to continue to exist at all. Otherwise, macrobiotic counseling will, I predict, revert back to its roots, and be offered as a free service and again reinvent itself, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Given this scenario, although Macrobiotic Counseling provides a much needed and essential service to the world and counselors have helped prolong the lives of many hundreds of thousands there are issues that hamper its growth, development and wide general acceptance by the masses and these are as follows:

1. No Public Forum For Clients To Provide Feedback On Their Counseling Experience

At present, there is no place for clients to offer legitimate complaints concerning their experience with a counselor. Such a process would naturally influence the marketplace and business of counseling and in its absence, counselors are able to continue to offer their services without any oversight or mechanism of checks and balances.

2. State Accrediation and Licensure or Offer Counseling For Free

At present there is no school, be it the Kushi Institute or others that are accredited by any state educational board. Some people may think this is a good thing and Michio himself has shied away from it. But the net result is that it makes for regulating and standardizing teh business of counseling more difficult. Again, some may think this is fine and even desireable, but the fact remains that the business of counseling relies on a trusting public and without any third party oversight and some type law enforcement, the public’s trust will never be at 100%. The only way to avoid licensure and otherwise gain the 100% of the public’s trust is to offer counseling for free and to make everything transparent upon request and permission from the client.

3. Inconsistent Macrobiotic Guidance

In keeping with macrobiotic principles, Michio is and was never interested in developing successors and encouraged his students to develop themselves on their own. This has resulted in the wide diversity of teachers and styles and approaches and this can be considered a good thing. However, when it comes down health guidance there is a need for consistency and the ongoing development of a collective public knowledgebase. Michio’s approach has not encouraged this to happen and the result is that most counselors do not work together and instead compete with each other.

In my opinion and from an scientific and intellectual point of view, this is the saddest thing that could happen. Whatever beneficial discoveries are made by any single counselor is lost among the competitive struggles. Likewise, whatever errors and mistakes that are made by one counselor go unnoticed and therefore gets repeated. In short, the state of affairs of Macrobiotic Counseling is such that while it may help some individuals, it is making zero progress in contributing to society at large. Therefore it remains, after 40 years, still as an “unproven” method in the medical literature and on websites.

In summary and in my opinion, if Macrobiotic Counseling is to develop at all from its present state then it needs to be actively contributing to society at large. To do this, an idependent third party regulatory body should be established where clients can submit legitimate complaints which will then, in turn, provide the mechanism for checks and balances in the marketplace. A shared knowledgebase that counselors can professionally contribute toward and work together to grow and develop should be created and offered for the general public and as part of the ongoing education and training of future counselors. Out of this, standardized procedures and policies can be ongoingly developed and made transparent with the ultimate goal of obtaining 100% of the public’s trust.

Without any of the above then, to establish the public’s full trust, Macrobiotic Counseling should revert back to it’s roots by being offered entirely for free and for donations only. This is a sure way to eliminate any profit motive and hidden agenda that might be overlooked in any complex business model.

Meanwhile, the business of Macrobiotic Counseling will continue in it’s limited way which is by word-of-mouth referral only as it does today. That being said then for those seeking a counseling experience that is more or less consistent with Michio’s approach in terms of both method and content can privately message me for names of counselors that I personally recommend.

As far as myself is concerned, I support both the larger vision of developing an independent association and cooperative effort of macrobiotic counselors who contribute to society at large as well as personally offering my own counseling services for free and donation only. We can never have too many assurances for trust, especially when it involves life and death situations.

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Thank You!!! for your thoughts and opinions on this area of the macrobiotic journey
I believe your blog of today has been needed for a long, long time
I’ve been to the Kushi Institute for The Way To Health and the 3 educational levels
I have noticed a few very few ‘macrobiotic counselors’ have mentioned the lack of growth in the interest of macrobiotics
I have found there are 2 groups of people who come to macrobiotics the first group consists of persons who are facing various medical situations and the second group consists of persons who believe they can make I suspect an ‘excellent’ income
I have noticed the first group usually goes to educational macrobiotic events where they get the basics and then have very limited if any future contact with the macrobiotic ‘professionals’
I suspect the second group gradually discontinues their educationing when they realize they will not make ‘the big bucks’
there are many reasons for the waning of macrobiotics
I basically believe in the macrobiotic diets the healing and the standard
BUT
the macrobiotic ‘professionals’ I’ve interacted with usually alter the basics
one example
Cynthia Briscoe’s brown rice and gomashio recipes differ from your mother’s
ALSO
I have found the macrobiotic ‘professionals’ eneviably make disparaging remarks concerning your father
I can only imagine the ambiance surrounding your father when he was conveying his macrobiotic experiences to his ‘lucky’ students
Today’s macrobiotic ‘counselors’ are very, very impersonal and expensive
AND
I wonder just how educated and experienced they really are
Personally I believe you should send this blog to as many online macrobiotic websites
Thank you for the opportunity to express a few of my thoughts and opinions concerning macrobitocs

Thank you, Phiya for your clear cut honesty on this issue. As a beginner in the field of Macrobiotics I’m wondering whether getting full State Accrediation and Licensure might put some limitations on what counselors can say or cannot say to their clients and turn it into an institutionalized Macrobiotics. I feel Michio had a great vision in mind when not making clear guidelines for counseling, because a wide and diverse view is needed in this field and is the spirit of Macrobiotics in my eyes. But I agree with you that people need regulation and consistency in order to give trust, and this is definitely missing, especially when personal financial gain is involved.
Daniel

Phiya,
Brilliant! I just found your blog—I havent seen or heard from you in years and now here you are—-the Web is so wonderful—You have always surprised me and to my delight you still do. Wonderful Phiya!…..what an eloquent way to describe exactly what is going on in the counseling world of macrobiotics–in many ways, my heart breaks to know that things have not advanced in the macrobiotic world to allow the creation of a strong professional environment that would fully support the counselors and education for the public–all of which could grow and change into infinity for all mankind. I look forward to following your blog and see what else is in store—thank you for speaking from your heart and always staying true to the Kushi mission.
Banchagirl

As I have been learning about Free Markets (and the Unifying Principle & Laws of Change), I have to disagree that imposed regulations have the capacity to create that “ideal” environment where 100 % trust can be given, especially in fields where human´s unique characteristics are called upon. Plus, I don´t agree that 100 % trust is that good of a thing.

The best regulation in Austrian economics is called the “invisible hand of the market”, which is based on competition, self-interest / reputation and supply/demand. It looks very yin on the surface, but that is the deceiving part. It´s yang is more hidden and much more powerful and long lasting. It has a self-regulating nature that is stronger in its capacity to create order, balance and quality products. It also places the Responsibility and Power back in the hands of the individual consumer, not some government body.

I leave you with some quotes, for your amusement:
(In my opinion they totally reflect some of the understanding that comes from the Unifying Principle and Laws of Change taught within MB).

The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They weren’t only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else. All this equality was due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution, and to the unceasing vigilance of agents of the United States Handicapper General.

The “handicapping” worked partly as follows:

Hazel had a perfectly average intelligence, which meant she couldn’t think about anything except in short bursts. And George, while his intelligence was way above normal, had a little mental handicap radio in his ear. He was required by law to wear it at all times. It was tuned to a government transmitter. Every twenty seconds or so, the transmitter would send out some sharp noise to keep people like George from taking unfair advantage of their brains.

From “Harrison Bergeron” a satirical, dystopian science fiction short story written by Kurt Vonnegut and first published in October 1961.

_________________________________________________________________

A government that habitually saves all fools from their bad decisions, ultimately creates a nation of fools.

The reason to trust markets more than government is simple. Markets, absent government interference, are ruled by what Adam´s Smith called the Invisible Hand of competition. Governments are not.
In a competitive environment it is impossible to be dishonest over a long period of time because consumers will shift their patronage to a partner they can trust. Not so in a government setting.
Competition is a far more trustworthy medium for reducing anti-social behaviour than government, which is often itself corrupt and anti-social. Who watches the watchers? – Daily Bell

Regulation creates an environment in which reputation is less important because consumers think the government is protecting them. They think they don´t have to worry about it, so they don´t. If this weren´t the case – if people knew they had to rely on their own judgment, experience and expertise, as well as that of sources they trust – reputation would become much more important in all markets around the world. Having a reputation for striving for the highest standards of business ethics, as well as in quality of products or services, would become a powerful competitive advantage and regulating force. So government regulation doesn´t protect the consumer, it really just makes things easier for the swindler. – Doug Casey

The night before King Arthur´s final battle with his son Mordred, when Arthur was in despair about the failure of his round table to improve society and prevent war, Merlyn told him that no one can really be saved from anything. The only thing one can really do to improve the world is to add to the pool of ideas. That way ideas conflict — with each other and reality — and over time the better ideas survive, raising the whole aggregate of the human condition. – Louis James

Is it any wonder the state is running a deficit of upwards of $20 billion? Or that, despite the fine weather, the number of large businesses that have made tangible moves to leave California due to the taxes and regulations have tripled from last year?

The other advantage of this scheme is that all traffic participants have to give each other due regard. People show courtesy and respect to each other when there are no regulatory signs of distraction.

There is a safer outcome when people have to make a decision and take responsibility for that decision, instead of simply doing as they are told”.

This comment is from Bernd Felsche for the video above, but makes the point very clearly for this video as well

Phyla,
I read your blog concerning the recent status of macrodbiotics and how it has mutated as more individuals trained in your father’s
belief systems have diverged from them. I have a health advocate for my husband for the past 2 1/2 years while he battles metastatic kidney cancer and was hoping to improve his health with macrobiotics. I am concerned about this information and cannot bear to have our hopes to extend his life dashed yet again.

Hi Phiya my name is George Bakhos.Iwould first like to say thank you for having this website and secondly i would like to thank you for sharing your insight with us all.
The articles that you have wrote and brought forward are nothing more than an inspiration
to all of the true followers of macrobiotics.To you. YOU MAY THINK at times that you are fighting a loosing battle ;but guess what ;you my friend are making slow progress in the food movement of the world,because today you have another dedicated follower of macrobiotics.And i feel privileged to say that not only have i been reading your fathers books for the past quarter of a century and only recently opened myself to the world of computers ,Istumble across your website.which has connected me to the source of people that i need to stay connected to.
I HAVE FOUND that not being connected with like minded people makes it hard on any single individual to keep trulydedicated to the macro way of LIFE.But over time i always come back to the true macro way and in doing so my health improves immediately.
I would just like to say that now that i have a way to stay connected, that the future of macrobiotics continues to grow.And i would like to add a little phiya to your fire,not only have i learnt on how to heal myself but you would be glad to hear that i have also learnt on how to help others.And for that i am deeply grateful to to your father MICHIO for without your fathers books i truly believe my state of mind and health would not be this way.
So if you could say a MAJOR thank to your father from me George Bakhos.
The only reason i ask this of you is because of the recent message i read about MICHIO taking time out from the public.You might like to add the SPIRIT OF MACRO LIVES ON to your father and that he has had a quiet follower that he was unaware of for a quarter of a century and in that time i have managed to touch the hearts of thousands of people that i have interacted with and i am certain that the massage that MICHIO was trying to resonate across the globe is still continuing .Not only through those he taught personally but also through the websites ,lectures,conferences,meetings and most of all his books.For it is you MICHIO KUSHI I HAVE TO THANK FOR SHOWING ME THE TRUTH ABOUT FOOD AND LIFESTYLE AND HOW IT AFFECTS US ALL.YES MICHIO YOU HAVE SUCCEEDED IN YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO SPREAD THE WORD,AND I WILL CONTNUE TO DO THE SAME THANK YOU MY TRUE FRIENDS.

George BAKHOS
in relation to the slow progress of macrobiotics it has come to my attention that the reason for this is that because humans are such habitual creatures we have a tendancy to stick to what we have learnt as means to get by [the so called western diet]ways of being and thinking.SO IF WE TAKE A LOOK at habits first and how long it takes an individual to first recognise that they have a habit and then process what they need to do to give up a habit whether it be food drink or thought it all takes time to make that change into a reality. given this factor, we come to see the inevitability of the time needed to make that change.And given a number of changes that need to be made ,it makes it harder on the individual to make the shift.
Secondly the habits of thought .
IT HAS BEEN MADE CLEAR BY MY CONSCIENCE THAT THE FIRST FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS OF OUR LEARNINGS HAVE A TENDENCY TO STICK WITH US THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES UNTIL WE BECOME AWARE OF THIS AND IT IS UP TO EACH INDIVIDUAL TO UNMASK THE HABITUAL WAYS THAT ARE NO LONGER USEFUL TO US.AND IN SAYING THIS ,IT CAN TAKE A LIFETIME FOR SOME TO COME TO THIS REALISATION.AND IN SAYING THIS ONE WOULD THINK WHO HAS A LIFETIME TO WAIT.NOT THE CASE.
THE TRUTH IS ,I THINK THAT IF WE CAN AIM AT A WAY THAT DEALS WITH FIRST BRINGING PEOPLES AWARENESS TO HABIT FORMING THOUGHTS AND HOW OUR THOUGHTS EFFECT US THEN WE CAN WORK ON BRINGING AWARENESS TO FOOD AND LIFESTYLE.BECAUSE IT IS OUR MINDS THAT IS THE HARDEST CONTENDER.

GeorgeBakhos
IN relation to macrobiotics moving at a much faster way in the world ,have you tried to get in contact with any major education departments that you might be able to get through in order to bring about the importance of a new education system that could be part of the curiculum for todays education system ,or maybe some government body that you know that might have some say in the matter and not an education system for todays children only but also an education system for those who have left school.I LIVE IN TASMANIA A STATE IN AUSTRALIA,and in the past 25yrs i have not met any people that practice macrobiotics apart from those that i had met at a macro weekend in sydney and have only dealt with one cousellor in all that time .Iwas wondering if you have any suggestions in terms of how to improve the situation over here for macro councellors.THANK YOU

George Bakhos
Getting back to the issue of habit forming ways and how to over come them here are some of the ways that helped me speed up the process.First of all we need to distinguish the difference between useful[positive] habits. And non useful[destructive]habits.This applies to food, water,environment,lifestyles and our thoughts ,in terms of the way and how we think,can effect our outcome.
Another method i found that helped was listening to some paraliminal cds which in turn helps to syncronise both sides of our brain which enables us to tap into the greatest parts of our minds in turn total awakening to the essence of our being.IT WAS LIKE SOMEONE HAD JUST TURNED THE LIGHTS ON.IN listening to the cds and following the macro way”” OF COURSE””I BELIEVE IT HAD SPED THE ACCEPTANCE PROCESS UP BY ABOUT TEN FOLD.And for those that might be curious the paraliminal cds where by BILL HARRIS AND Ialso forgot to mention his book by BILL HARRIS”” thresholds of the mind””.
I HOPE THIS ALL HELPS.

……….The division between the macrobiotic conselours and their attitudes is just a reflect of their conditions, … we are human beings living in a world of duality, none of us is perfect but we want to get there in one way or the other, then when we see a problem we should offer solutions to get to an agreement and find the qualities that will make us get closer to it.
To get a consensus between everyone is a difficult task, specially when the intuitive aspect is so reinforce as it is in macrobiotics, the scientific experience is a difficult task in this kind of situations, because the human being capability to heal goes beyond understanding (miracles) many times. But if we look at this like a natural way of being, it is not necessary that all of them will be together yet, because everyone will touch the lives of many and this will expand opening new ways and enrichening the original vision given. When the time to get together comes, the reunion will occur, because in this world of duality it is necessary the division is the condition previous for the reunion.

And we should be conscious of the following too,….The humility needed to share without being recognized is a blessing that doesn´t belong to everyone as well as the trust needed to understand and accept that our needs will be covered without charging others is a blessing too and doesn´t belong to everyone either, the unconditional love that guide people to share what is or will be good for others is a blessing too, but I am afraid not everyone knows about it as well as the unconditional respect for human nature that will guide us to accept everyone as we are and just work everyday to be where and when we are supposed to be all of these are blessings, but again not all of us are ready to get there yet, we are getting ready for it, I like to make a comparison, it is like being gestating, being born and grow up, we can apply this not just to our physical body, the rest of our bodies maybe in different states, some gestating, others just born, others mature, others in adolescence,….and all the different possibilities can be going on in every human being.

How do we handle this? With tons of patience, first with us, because we are our biggest responsibility and after with everyone else, specially with those that get to our nerves, those are the ones that deserves that we look very careful inside of ourselves. With inner and outer work that includes the big duty of, at least, trying to be happy and grateful for all the blessings we had, we have and we will have.

I read in a book written by Namboku Mizuno and translated by Michio and Aveline Kushi, that every man has destined all that he has, for example, if I have five apples to eat during my life, if I eat three I will be saving two and creating good fortune doing this, if I eat six, I am taking one from other person and this will be translated in my life as misfortune. Knowing this gives us the consciousness and the responsibility that we have with all that we acquire, not just in the material world, once we wake up, no way back, ….consciousness costs us a higher toll if we don´t act consequently with our knowledge.

Many people that are supposed to be awake are not, then just be patience, strive for our own excellence and let´s wake up respecting everyone´s own pace.